National University faculty member, Stephanie Draus, ND, is now qualified
to lead classes and workshops in the Watson/Northwestern Method of
Medical Improv.

Created by Professor Katie Watson of Feinberg School of Medicine
at Northwestern University, this theatre-based approach helps
medical students and professionals improve their skills in
communication, collaboration and empathy.

At a recent medical improv seminar held by Northwestern-Feinberg
Medical School, Dr. Draus was the only ND and only "alternative"
practitioner participating. "This was a great opportunity to
represent our professions in a mixed specialty setting," says Dr.
Draus.

Dr. Draus has already been using some improv exercises in her naturopathic counseling classes
at NUHS. She also gave a presentation on the topic at a
conference of the Society for Arts in Healthcare in May, 2012. She
has a long history of improvisational performance and enjoys using
her theatrical skills in the service of medical education.

"An example of an improv exercise I use here at National
University involves having the students 'walk' as different people.
For example, I tell them to: walk like a doctor, walk like a person
with low back pain, walk like a 65-year old woman, or walk like
someone suffering from Parkinson disease," says Dr. Draus. " This
gives them a sense of somebody else's experience of life and how
different health conditions can change that person's
perspective."

"The walking exercise also corresponds to what they're learning
in pathology classes. They learn about antalgic postures, or
moving away from the site of pain. They start to understand
how observing their patients' walk and stance can give important
clues to where the pain is," says Dr. Draus.

At National University, medical improv is one of many
interactive curriculum components that provide a framework for
learning beyond the textbook, and prepares students for better
doctor-patient interactions in their future careers.

(Read more about using medical improv in health
care education in this journal article by Professor Katie
Watson.)